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Single Idea 22495

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 2. Elements of Virtue Theory / e. Character ]

Full Idea

To speak of a good person is to speak of an individual not in respect of his body, or of faculties such as sight and memory, but as concerns his rational will (his 'will as controllable by reason').

Gist of Idea

Someone is a good person because of their rational will, not their body or memory

Source

Philippa Foot (Natural Goodness [2001], 5)

Book Ref

Foot,Philippa: 'Natural Goodness' [OUP 2003], p.66

A Reaction

She more or less agrees with Kant that the only truly good moral thing is a good will, though she has plenty of other criticisms of his views.

The 14 ideas from 'Natural Goodness'

23686 Moral reason is not just neutral, because morality is part of the standard of rationality [Foot, by Hacker-Wright]
23687 Moral virtues arise from human nature, as part of what makes us good human beings [Foot, by Hacker-Wright]
22491 Moral evaluations are not separate from facts, but concern particular facts about functioning [Foot]
23693 Practical rationality must weigh both what is morally and what is non-morally required [Foot]
23695 Good actions can never be justified by the good they brings to their agent [Foot]
23694 All criterions of practical rationality derive from goodness of will [Foot]
22492 Virtues are as necessary to humans as stings are to bees [Foot]
22493 Sterility is a human defect, but the choice to be childless is not [Foot]
22496 Wisdom only implies the knowledge achievable in any normal lifetime [Foot]
22495 Someone is a good person because of their rational will, not their body or memory [Foot]
22497 Deep happiness usually comes from the basic things in life [Foot]
22498 Happiness is enjoying the pursuit and attainment of right ends [Foot]
22499 We all know that just pretending to be someone's friend is not the good life [Foot]
22502 Refraining from murder is not made good by authenticity or self-fulfilment [Foot]